Buenos Aires Draft Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (1994)

UNESCO

The Draft includes 23 articles and related commentary regarding
the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. It defines the
nature of the underwater cultural heritage, the legal (ownership)
status of underwater heritage and the establishment of cultural
heritage zones. The Convention applies to heritage that has been
under water for 100 years or more though State parties may choose
to include heritage that has been submerged for less than 100 years.
The Convention does not include warships in its scope. The Convention
recommends actions to be taken regarding seized underwater cultural
heritage. States are encouraged:

to collaborate together in investigation, research, documentation,
conservation, and promotion of this heritage,

to disseminate information using international databases, and

to develop educational programs to raise public awareness of
the value of underwater cultural heritage and the threats that
it faces.